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Liu Zhen

A new Chinese flying-wing aircraft – possibly the CH-7 stealth drone or another new model seen recently on satellite imagery – could be undergoing test flights, an image circulating on social media suggests.
The photo, which could not be verified, shows the large aircraft in flight from the rear, its landing gear down and split rudders near the wing tips.
Its low-observable, flying-wing design combines the wings and fuselage, giving the aircraft a wide, flat appearance.
It is not known when or where the photo was taken and its low resolution makes it difficult to discern many details.
The aircraft bears some resemblance to the Rainbow CH-7 stealth reconnaissance drone, which is being developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The CH-7 was expected to take its maiden flight some time this year.

However, military website The War Zone speculated that the aircraft in the photo could be the same one it earlier identified on satellite imagery from May at the Malan test base in China’s far western Xinjiang region.
That drone was much larger than the CH-7, with an estimated wingspan of about 50 metres (164 feet) – similar in size to the US B-2 Spirit bomber.
By comparison, the CH-7 has a wingspan of 27.3 metres (89.5 feet).
These new aircraft reflect China’s significant investment of resources to develop a range of flying-wing design drones in recent years, amid an ambitious push to modernise the People’s Liberation Army.
The CH-7 was unveiled in 2018 and has since gone through several design modifications. A ground taxiing test of its landing gear and control systems was conducted at the end of 2024.
It is what is known as a high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft and has a maximum take-off weight of 8 tonnes, a cruising speed of 0.5 Mach, a service ceiling of 16,000 metres and a maximum endurance of 16 hours, according to the most recent specifications.
The drone’s speed would not be fast enough for it to be a “loyal wingman” to the Chinese air force’s next-generation fighter jets.
Instead, it is designed for covert reconnaissance missions in high-risk areas such as long-range detection, surveillance and situational awareness, as well as target guidance for strike operations.
To do that, its design has been changed to improve stealth, upgrade its sensors and avionics, and expand its wingspan while reducing the aircraft’s weight. Its weapon bay was also eliminated.
The CH-7 has also been designed so that it can be used by the PLA’s aircraft carriers and landing helicopter dock ships, according to its developer.


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News

China

Military

Image circulating on social media shows large aircraft that resembles the CH-7 or a drone seen in earlier satellite imagery from Xinjiang


Image circulating on social media shows large aircraft that resembles the CH-7 or a drone seen in earlier satellite imagery from Xinjiang.


Drones

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)